The Saudi government is well known for its efforts to improve its public image abroad through the practice of sportwashing. Sportwashing refers to the concerted efforts of the Saudi royal house to improve its international reputation by leveraging the vast wealth of their sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, to host large-scale sporting events. In essence, the Saudis are seeking to buy positive news coverage by hosting these events and seek to distract the public from the numerous human rights abuses that take place within the kingdom.
Numerous examples of Saudi sportwashing exist in the world of sports. The Saudi authorities have hosted numerous football tournaments in the country including: the Italian Super Cup, the Concacaf Gold Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup. Saudi Arabia will host the biggest football tournament in the world when they host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. Golf has felt the influence of the Saudi Public Investment Fund through the Saudi International, a major golf tournament held in the country with a five million dollar prize. Saudi Arabia also hosts a Formula One grand prix.
While much has been said about the influence of Saudi sportswashing on more traditional sports, little has been said about the Saudi influence on esports. The Esports World Cup is being held in Riyadh with the Public Investment fund serving as the main partner for the event. Esports sees millions of viewers tune in to watch teams play some of the world’s most popular video games at a high skill level. The market growth for the sport is impressive as well; when compared to more traditional sports in the USA, esports’ market growth outpaces both the NFL and the NBA. The Saudi government sees the esports market as a new means to raise its international prestige with a whole new generation of digital sports fans.
The community behind one of the Esports World Cup’s most popular games, League of Legends, is divided by the influx of Saudi money into their favorite game. Many take issue with Saudi Arabia’s atrocious human rights record; feeling uncomfortable in taking money from the Public Investment Fund to host streaming events associated with the Esports World Cup.
Another controversy surrounding the host country is Saudi Arabia’s lack of women’s rights. The Esports World Cup has a women’s invitational where some of the world’s best all-women teams face off for a $150,000 prize including two Saudi teams. The celebration of these women’s teams, especially the two teams from Saudi Arabia, in a country where local women suffer from a lack of rights is a jarring juxtaposition.
The Saudi government will continue to invest heavily into both traditional and non-traditional sports. The rapid growth of the esports industry has made the sport an attractive new means of spreading Saudi influence. The Saudi government will now use esports as its newest way to buy positive news cycles with the international press in an effort to bury criticisms against the country’s human rights abuses.
